Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, whose campaign committee was drained of millions of dollars by her former treasurer, will be able to go back to some of her donors for replacement checks.

The Federal Election Commission said today that contributors whose checks were never cashed by Feinstein’s committee could send in another. However, the FEC failed to get the four votes needed to approve Feinstein’s request to allow donors whose checks went into former treasurer Kinde Durkee’s pocket rather than for the senator’s re-election to send another contribution.

Durkee pleaded guilty March 30 to five counts of mail fraud in connection with charges that she embezzled more than $7 million from Feinstein’s committee and those of other Democratic politicians. The government said it would seek restitution, though Feinstein and the others likely will not get back all of the money they lost.

Feinstein, who is up for re-election this fall, reported a bank account balance of $7.3 million as of April 30. She lent her campaign $5 million.